Hussey’s injury increases World Cup doubts

Melbourne: Veteran Australian batsman Mike Hussey’s chances of playing at the cricket World Cup 2011 will remain shrouded in uncertainty for at least two more weeks.

A month from Australia’s first match of their title defence, Hussey is battling to be fit for the showpiece event after suffering a severe hamstring injury in Sunday’s six-wicket win over England at the MCG.

Hussey was this week named in Australia’s 15-man squad for the tournament, which they are attempting to win for the fourth time in succession, although selectors conceded a final
decision on his fitness would have to be delayed.

The Australians are banking on Hussey being available for the quarter-finals of the tournament, being held in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. The last-eight ties are a month into the event.

But Australia’s physiotherapist Alex Kountouris admitted they were unsure how long it would take the left-hander to recover from surgery to reattach his damaged hamstring tendon.

The 35-year-old has returned to Western Australia.

“He will now undergo intensive rehabilitation over the coming weeks and how he progresses through this rehabilitation period will ultimately determine his return to cricket,” Kountouris said.

“As this is an unusual injury in cricket we will be closely monitoring his progress and making appropriate progressions.”

“As yet we have not determined a fixed time for his return to cricket training and playing. This will become clearer in the next two or three weeks.”

Australian captain Ricky Ponting is also battling to be fit for the World Cup, as he recovers from a broken finger suffered during the recent Ashes Test series.

Left-arm paceman Mitchell Johnson is suffering from a throat infection and will miss tomorrow’s one-day international against England in Hobart.